I just gave my last ever Language exam. After today, writing in my mother tongue will only happen when I feel like it. No one, and I mean no one, can force me to write that against my will any more. If I want I'll write in it every day, if I don't want – I freaking don't need to. And no more dreaded Language classes! HAH. Life can be good at times. :)
Excuse the rant, I'm just excited. Of course, not as excited as I was when I saw that not a day since I uploaded my story I got reviews! So, this goes out to poisoned blood, CentrIfficus, Mistress Moriarty, Brittany di Angelo and my first ever reviewer (on this story): eoz16! I love you all. You made my day. SO, here's the second chapter – out much earlier than I expected out of sheer love for you guys! :)
For the next couple of weeks, Draco did not leave the common room for anything save his lessons. Nobody really noticed his absence, or was grateful for it. Even the Quidditch team seemed to continue to practice when he wasn't there. The captain gave him a few ultimatums and that was it. Draco wasn't bothered. He bought his way into the team once, he would surely be able to do it a second time. Instead he remained in solitude during the entire period, brooding in his throne or dormitory – planning revenge on Hermione Granger.
Unfortunately, he wasn't progressing very far in the planning forte. Draco sat alone for hours, pouring over books, learning new spells and trying to find the best way to get back at Granger. He idled around with silly ones like filling a balloon with mulch, levitating it over her head and letting it drop. Preferably in front of the Potions dungeons so that he wouldn't get into trouble. Surely Snape – excuse me, Professor Snape – would find some ingenious method to fish him out. Or perhaps give him 'detention' by inviting him to his office and they could enjoy wizard chess. Ever since Draco beat him in first year, Snape felt compelled to keep playing him till he won. Draco considered letting him win, but Snape had placed spells to prevent that. Plus, his own ego would not be able to tolerate Snape's gloating if he did.
Another plan was to steal her clothes while she was in the shower and make her run naked through the halls. It would be punishment for her and all the girls and boys she crosses – because honestly, seeing her naked was definitely not a treat. However, of course the plenty of flaws including figuring out how to sneak into the girl's bathrooms and stealing her clothes without attracting attention. And everyone knew Draco Malfoy was too attractive to not catch everyone's eyes.
Draco stood up and walked to the mirror. His features had not changed much since he hit puberty. He was expecting drastic improvements in his physical appearance, but sadly there were none. His face altogether was a little less pointy and more chiselled, but that was about it. He played around with this platinum hair for a while – gelling it back like he used to, bringing some hair to the front to act like bangs and a variety more. Finally, he smoothed it back like old times and flexed his muscles (or lack thereof) instead. When he first came to Hogwarts, he was skin and bones. He could hear people calling him scrawny behind his back, never having the courage to say it to his face. He frowned. Playing Quidditch had certainly done some good. He was still as skinny as ever, even anorexic to a point, but the Quidditch helped tone whatever muscle he had. It was shapelier and very nearly becoming hard. He flexed his arm and poked the little bulge. Unlike his first two years where the finger sunk into the underlying layer of fat, this time it sank only a short distance before he was met by what he could only describe as pulsing, hot raw biceps. Others would just call it meat and bones.
He turned to his face again. He turned in different angles and observed his nose. Draco appeared to be pleased with what he saw. His mother always said he had an aristocratic nose – sharp, but not too sharp. Then he fluttered his eyes, and tried to stare as seductively as he could through the smoky blonge haze of his eyelashes. The blonde and the silver of his eyes seemed to work together in an exquisite blend. He opened his eyes again, and stared intently at himself, trying to focus on his irises. He read in books that eyes can swirl and he dearly wished that his would too. However, being unsure what it meant, he couldn't judge. So he just assumed it did. Finally stepping back to take in a full view, he smirked and returned to his seat.
His plans were too juvenile, or too crude. Draco refused to carry out juvenile plans. He was at an age where he had to act mature. He was Draco Malfoy, not some stupid snot-nosed twelve-year- old. He had to come up with a plan that displayed his class and his ingenious and his maturity. He was Draco Malfoy, so his plan needed to ooze out class and sophistication. He wasn't going to do something lewd or crass. He had his twisted set of morals, and he took pride in abiding by them. Mudblood or not, she was a girl. He was going to have to treat her with a little respect, no matter how much it sickened him. He wasn't going to execute this until he had the perfect plan in mind. A plan that was not ungentlemanly, that was mature. He would spend all of Third Year plotting this but would not rest until he had publicly humiliated her. He could not make peace with himself until he got his revenge on Hermione Granger.
"Malfoy. Don't leave your seat for another week, okay? I've nearly secured your Seeker's position."
Draco looked up to see Blaise Zabini smirking at him. This relationship with Zabini was complicated. It could be said that Blaise was the only friend Draco really had. However, they were always at each other's throat, competing and throwing cutting remarks at each other. Sometimes these were harmless jabs, other times it went on to insult family. Despite it, Draco knew that he could count on Blaise to back him up in times of serious trouble. He would probably give him hell later, but in Draco's moment of need Blaise would be there.
"Sod off, Zabini. I haven't got time for you. And in case you didn't know, that broom you fly around in is a gift from my father. So if you want to have a broom you'll keep your filthy paws off my position."
"Touchy, are we today? Please, Malfoy. I could buy a better broom if I wanted. Our family's got older, purer blood than yours."
"Yeah, pure blood. With that mother of yours sleeping with every man she sees. Within a few days she'll make advances on me – Oh. That's what you meant by buy a better broom."
"Shut up. You're getting worse at this. If you keep hitting me with the same lines, I'll get bored. You don't want me to find a new play mate now, would you?"
Malfoy said nothing. Blaise smirked. Whoever was the first to get that line out usually won. Neither openly admitted it, but they both feared losing each other. Having nothing real to call a family, each other was the closest thing they had. They grew up together, Malfoy and Zabini were nearly brothers.
"Yeah. Always afraid to watch me walk away. Why is that, Malfoy? Got a little crush, have you?"
Malfoy snarled at him. Blaise just smirked again. "Oh, Malfoy. Your cheek is becoming red again. Granger hit you again?" Then he walked off.
Yes. Draco Malfoy had to take revenge on Granger, or he'd be the punch line – or rather slap line – of every joke.
Hermione Granger found herself thinking about Draco Malfoy a couple of times. Her guilt was gnawing inside her, as if it was a building a tunnel to escape. The rush of slapping Malfoy had long worn off, and now with even the attention she was receiving gone she felt terrible. There were several things working on her at once. First there was the initial guilt of slapping him. She still couldn't believe she had done it. Then she felt guilty for not apologizing straight away – not only that, but she felt guilty that the reason she didn't apologize immediately was that she wanted approval and attention. Just the thought of it made her sick. Finally, there was the fact that Malfoy had been missing from every meal time for about a week now, and she had a sick feeling inside her that she was the cause.
The boys initially didn't even notice. Harry realized when Wood told him over practice that Malfoy hadn't attended some meetings. Hermione decided it was a safe time to say she noticed he wasn't at the Great Hall ever either. Ron snorted when he heard this, and said that he hoped her slap made him curl up and die somewhere. She smiled a little at this, while Harry agreed wholeheartedly. However, a frown worked its way to her face. When the boys (Harry) finally noticed, he asked her what was wrong. Ron turned, bewildered. "Wrong?" He saw her expression and grew worried. "You okay, 'Mione?"
When Ron finally asked, she couldn't help herself. She began pouring everything out. Her best friends listened in silence, occasionally exchanging looks. As she told them, there were a few teardrops rolling down her face. Finally, she burst into sobs and buried her face into her hands. The boys remained silent, watching her. After some time, she recomposed herself and attempted to smile. "It's silly, I know. Apologizing to Malfoy, what an outrageous idea! The boy has been a perfect git to me all his life, and the one time I do something gutsy, guilt eats at me like a hungry hippogriff."
Harry sighed and smiled warmly at her. "No, Hermione. It's okay. In our first year, it wasn't until Quirrell was completely threatening my life that I tried to do something. Even after all that, I felt slightly bad for what I did. Feeling guilty is good, it means you aren't like them. You don't enjoy being a downright prat. But like you said, Malfoy deserved it – just like Quirrell did. Plus, you didn't even do anything all that bad. You didn't hex him like I know you could have or hurt him in any awful way. All you did to him was a harmless slap. It hurts the ego more than the face, and Malfoy deserves a bruise to the ego. As for his sulking, like I said, a little bruise to the ego is healthy for him. He'll get over it soon."
Reassured by his words, she smiled at Harry and then, instinctively, at Ron. He looked a bit awkward, but smiled back. "Cheer up, 'Mione. You won't be regretting it for too long. Malfoy will be back to his old self soon enough and you'll be itching to replay the incident if anything!"
Hearing Ron trying to cheer her up was all the assurance she needed. She grinned and said, "You guys are right! I shouldn't worry myself over it. Thanks you two!" She scooted over and gave Harry a one-handed hug. Impulsively she went over to Ron and nearly hugged him too. Realizing what she was doing she began to blush, and to her amazement so did he. This only made blush more. She quickly put an arm around him and withdrew it even faster, so Harry wouldn't suspect anything out of the ordinary.
Still coloured a flaming red, Hermione got up and began walking out.
"Wait, Hermione. Where are you going?"
"Library!" She called out behind her and left at full speed. If she had chanced a look at Ron like she longed to, she would see him sitting there still blushing - looking slightly disoriented.
At the library she finally relaxed. She pulled out an assortment of books from the shelves and seated herself in a distant corner. For once she did not intend on reading them (not just then, anyway!). Nor had she brought them down for homework reference. No, it was meant to hide her. For what she did then was something one would expect of Lavender Brown or Parvati Patil - but though not as silly, Hermione was also only just a thirteen year old girl. She, from behind the cover of her book-pile, then pulled out an old parchment and began to doodle hearts. Her mind was in a daze and she dared not believe it. She was sure she was dreaming. She had just hugged Ronald Weasley – her best friend and new crush. And just as she was about to hug him, he started to blush too. This year was going to be totally awesome!
There you go guys! It's complete!
I know a lot of you may be upset with Draco's description. I know he's supposed to be an mouthwatering beauty with chiselled pecs and all that, but like I said this is in character and Ms Rowling made Draco pointy and skinny. Also, I know Hermione's in love with Ron right now. Again it's all to do with the in character ness. The Dramione will come, be patient my cubs.
Don't forget to review!
Selzilla xoxo